Bill Text: IL HB5643 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Creates the Enhanced Services for Children with Disabilities Task Force to examine and review the Department of Children and Family Services' protocols and procedures for interviewing children with disabilities who are victims of abuse or neglect. Sets forth the task force's duties which shall include: (i) examining reports made to the Department's statewide toll-free telephone number that concern children with disabilities who later interviewed in an abuse or neglect case; and (ii) developing best practices and strategies for Department caseworkers to utilize when interviewing children with disabilities, including disability-specific approaches and services designed to make the child more compliant and focused during the interview process. Provides that the task force shall consist of 21 appointed members who shall serve without compensation and shall be considered members with voting rights. Provides that the task force shall meet and hold hearings as it deems necessary and shall receive the cooperation of any State agency it deems appropriate to assist the task force in carrying out its duties. Requires the task force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Department, and the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2018 and provides that the task force is abolished and the provisions creating the task force are repealed on January 1, 2019. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-10 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB5643 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HB5643-Introduced.html

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99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2015 and 2016 HB5643 Introduced , by Rep. Patricia R. Bellock SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 505/39.4 new
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Creates the Enhanced Services for Children with Disabilities Task Force to examine and review the Department of Children and Family Services' protocols and procedures for interviewing children with disabilities who are victims of abuse or neglect. Sets forth the task force's duties which shall include: (i) examining reports made to the Department's statewide toll-free telephone number that concern children with disabilities who later interviewed in an abuse or neglect case; and (ii) developing best practices and strategies for Department caseworkers to utilize when interviewing children with disabilities, including disability-specific approaches and services designed to make the child more compliant and focused during the interview process. Provides that the task force shall consist of 21 appointed members who shall serve without compensation and shall be considered members with voting rights. Provides that the task force shall meet and hold hearings as it deems necessary and shall receive the cooperation of any State agency it deems appropriate to assist the task force in carrying out its duties. Requires the task force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Department, and the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2018 and provides that the task force is abolished and the provisions creating the task force are repealed on January 1, 2019. Effective immediately.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended
by adding Section 39.4 as follows:
(20 ILCS 505/39.4 new)
Sec. 39.4. Enhanced Services for Children with
Disabilities Task Force.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Department" means the Department of Children and Family
Services.
"Director" means the Director of the Department of Children
and Family Services.
(b) The Enhanced Services for Children with Disabilities
Task Force is created to examine and review the Department's
protocols and procedures for interviewing children with
disabilities who are victims of abuse or neglect.
(c) The task force shall have the following duties:
(1) Examine reports made to the statewide toll-free
telephone number established under Section 7.6 of the
Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act that concern
children with disabilities who later interviewed in an
abuse or neglect case.

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(2) Identify the specific disabilities of those
children who interviewed in an abuse or neglect case.
(2) Review existing Department protocols for
interviewing children with disabilities.
(3) Develop best practices and strategies for
Department caseworkers to utilize when interviewing
children with disabilities, including disability-specific
approaches and services designed to make the child more
compliant and focused during the interview process.
(4) Develop and provide recommendations to the
Department regarding rules and procedures for interviewing
children with disabilities.
(d) The task force shall consist of 21 members as follows:
(1) The Director of the Department, or his or her
designee.
(2) Two investigators from the Department appointed by
the Director.
(3) Two members of the Coalition Against Sexual Abuse
of Children with Disabilities (CASACD) appointed by the
Director.
(4) One staff member from the University of Illinois at
Chicago's Institute on Disability and Human Development
appointed by the Director.
(5) One forensic interviewer appointed by the
Director.
(6) One representative from a group that advocates on

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behalf of children with disabilities appointed by the
Director.
(7) Two licensed clinical social workers appointed by
the Director.
(8) The Secretary of the Department of Human Services,
or his or her designee.
(9) One representative from the Department of Human
Services' Division of Developmental Disabilities appointed
by the Secretary of the Department of Human Services.
(10) The Director of the Illinois Council of
Developmental Disabilities, or his or her designee.
(11) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House
of Representatives.
(12) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of
the House of Representatives.
(13) Two members appointed by the President of the
Senate.
(14) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of
the Senate.
Members of the task force shall serve without compensation
and shall be considered members with voting rights. A quorum of
the task force shall consist of a majority of the members of
the task force.
(e) The task force shall meet and hold hearings as it deems
necessary and shall receive the cooperation of any State agency
it deems appropriate to assist the task force in carrying out

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its duties.
(f) The Department shall provide administrative support to
the task force.
(g) The task force shall submit a report of its findings
and recommendations to the Governor, the Department, and the
General Assembly no later than December 31, 2018.
(h) The task force is abolished and this Section is
repealed on January 1, 2019.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.